Queen Camilla was recently seen again with her seldom-seen sister during a public event.
On Tuesday, May 13, Camilla and her husband, King Charles III, attended the Elephant Family Evening of Art and Conservation at London’s Kew Gardens.
Among a few other royal family members present was Camilla’s younger sister, Annabel Elliot, an interior designer and antiques dealer. She is also the mother of Tory politician Sir Ben Elliot.
Annabel appeared in photos from the event, which supports Elephant Family — an NGO founded by Camilla’s brother Mark Shand in 2002 that collaborates with conservation experts to protect Asia’s wildlife and local communities.
Although Annabel hasn’t been in the spotlight as much as her sister, the Queen Consort, she doesn’t hesitate to speak openly about her sister’s marriage to the King.
Describing Camilla as “a very strong character” who “sticks to her guns,” Annabel told MailOnline in an exclusive interview on April 5: “Looking back, it’s remarkable how she has managed everything.
“She’s incredibly loyal to those she cares about… and she’s very straightforward. You always know where you stand with her.”
Annabel also praised Camilla’s reputed “really good sense of humour.”
“They seem to enjoy when things go a bit wrong,” she added. “Like when something goes awry on a tour or an event.
“My sister isn’t great at holding back her laughter. Dad often had to separate us in church because of it.”
When asked about Camilla and King Charles’ relationship, Annabel said: “They’ve known each other for almost their entire lives.”
“Theirs, as any marriage should be, is a huge friendship.”
Annabel highlighted that the key to their successful marriage is the lack of competition between them.
“She is not trying to steal his thunder in any way at all,” Annabel said. “He is the King. And she will do her best to support him and be totally loyal to him.”
She also pointed out that Camilla’s sense of humour is “the biggest gift she has given him [Charles],” saying it’s been a strong connection between them. “Even if they argue, they will always laugh,” she added.
A family friend also shared that, like many couples, they sometimes have strong disagreements. Both have different opinions, including about how Charles manages his time while undergoing cancer treatment.
“I think probably, particularly at the moment considering the King’s health in the last year, the main issue is that she can’t persuade him to take time out,” the friend noted.
“She obviously worries about him and his [cancer] treatment. Except for the first couple of months, he’s pretty well worked every day since.”